Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CRUMP, KRUMP, v. Cf. Cramp, v.

1. To crunch, munch (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), 1914 Angus Gl., krump; Bnff.², Abd.², Ags.², Lnk.¹¹ 1941). Now only dial. in Eng. Upper Deeside 1917 (per Abd.⁸):
Crump is the form used for hard gnashing or munching as a horse eats.Ags. 1790 D. Morison Poems 19:
Tib's teeth the sugar plums did crump Without the least objection.Ags.¹⁷ 1941:
Dinna crump yer sweeties, lassie, sook them.Lth. 1925 C. P. Slater Marget Pow 67:
The dentist told her she would be crumpin' toast with them in a wee whilie.s.Sc. 1847 H. S. Riddell Poems 193:
And weel she [cow] stows our pantry's cheeks, When nought else there can enter, As she will do, when green as leeks, She crumps it [hay] up in winter.

Hence crumper, a machine for pounding and braying corn.Lnk. 1948 Scotsman (24 Nov.): 
Threshing Mill, Power Crumper and Bruiser.

2. To crackle, as ice or snow when trodden on (Sc. 1825 Jam.²; Bnff.², Abd.² 1941). Also found in Nhp. dial. (E.D.D.). Ppl.adj. crumpin', crumpen, crisp, crackling, brittle.Rnf. 1790 A. Wilson Poems 197:
Alangst the drifted crumpin' knowes, A' roun' his glimmerin' een he rowes, For Hares, or bits o' burdies.Lnk. 1853 W. Watson Poems (1877) 98:
Tho' frost an' snaw Be crumpin hard on bank an' brae.Ayr. 1790 A. Tait Poems and Songs 298:
Come, gentlemen, who rule the roasts, And ladies that eat crumpen toasts.Kcb. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 133:
Fogs, condensing in the gelid air, Upo' the plains fall hoary . . . . . . an' to the pliant foot . . . the grassy path Crumps sonorous.